Man sought over Sydney eatery stabbing

A suspicious-looking man with an unusual gait is wanted over the attempted murder of a restaurateur who was stabbed and left for dead in his burning Sydney eatery.

The blaze broke out at the Essenza Italian restaurant on Crown Street in Surry Hills about 11am on July 4 after the man was attacked and stabbed multiple times by an assailant.

The 37-year-old man was rescued from his residence above the restaurant by a passing delivery driver who arrived just in the nick of time.

The injured man was taken to hospital with stab wounds and burns and is now recovering.

However his dog, a young German Shepherd, perished in the blaze.

Police said the incident was being treated as an attempted murder and on Tuesday released CCTV footage of a suspect with a medium build and abnormal gait, moving through the premises before it was set alight.

With his face covered, the suspect was not recognisable to the victim.